FALL RIVER — As the world continues to face the ongoing effects of the global pandemic of the coronavirus, Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., will join with bishops across the United States as well as from Canada in renewing the consecration of both nations to the care of our Blessed Mother. The online brief liturgy with the prayer of re-consecration will take place on Friday, May 1, at 3 p.m. EDT.

Bishop da Cunha is inviting priests and lay men and women of the Fall River Diocese to participate virtually as well, so that the prayers of all will be joined together in seeking the support and protection of the Blessed Mother at this critical time.

Please visit the Fall River Diocesan Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fallriverdiocese to join the live stream to take part.

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops President Archbishop José H. Gomez of Los Angeles announced the joint consecration by both bishops’ conferences earlier this week. He invited bishops to join in from their respective dioceses and requested that the invitation be extended to parishioners in their dioceses.

“This will give the Church the occasion to pray for Our Lady’s continued protection of the vulnerable, healing of the unwell, and wisdom for those who work to cure this terrible virus,” said Archbishop Gomez. Each year, the Church seeks the special intercession of the Mother of God during the month of May. “This year, we seek the assistance of Our Lady all the more earnestly as we face together the effects of the global pandemic,” he continued.

Through a collective dedication or entrustment of a nation to Mary, an act of consecration is meant to be a reminder to the faithful of the Blessed Mother’s witness to the Gospel and to ask for her effective intercession before her Son on behalf of those in need.

The consecration on May 1 follows a similar action of the bishops’ conference of Latin America and the Caribbean (CELAM) who consecrated their nations to Our Lady of Guadalupe on Easter Sunday.

Get the May 1st Reconsecration Liturgy Worship Aid here.

Reverendísimo Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D.
Reverendísimo Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., D.D.
The Bishop of Fall River